Invest in Kids Illinois kids only get one chance at an education and we must do everything we can to ensure that they get access to the quality schools they need and deserve. The Campaign is urging lawmakers to Invest in Kids and take meaningful steps toward providing all children with the best education possible by providing funds to the following programs: TEACHER TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP A tax credit to reimburse teachers for their out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Provide funding to ensure critical music, arts, and sports programs continue as in tough budgetary times, these programs are the first to be cut. Increase donations across the state to nonprofit scholarship organizations to provide scholarships to students to attend K through 12th grade, public and private schools. Funding to help schools ensure that students are safe and can learn in well-maintained buildings. OVER 350 SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS The Coalition The Illinois Kids Campaign is a grassroots coalition made up of over 350 schools and organizations from every corner of the state. Parents, guardians, teachers, communities, businesses, labor organizations, and many others support this effort to give kids the best education possible. The coalition has united to make a difference in the lives of Illinois children. Take Action Our children deserve access to the best education possible and we must be their voice in Springfield. You can add your voice by contacting your legislator. Please visit www.illinoiskidscampaign.org to contact your elected officials. www.illinoiskidscampaign.org
Help Parents and Families Choose the School That s Right for Them Children only get one chance at a quality education. Parents, grandparents and guardians know that sometimes the best school option for their children may be out of financial reach. Scholarships and tax credits are a few of the solutions supported by the Illinois Kids Campaign. Scholarships for Illinois kids to attend private schools $6,500 for elementary students and $8,000 for high school students, on average Eligibility includes currently enrolled students and new students TAX CREDIT Tax credits for parents, step-parents, guardians and grandparents Increase tax credit threshold for qualified education expenses, such as tuition and book fees, from current limit of $500 to $1,000 Schools maintain complete control over admission process and culture Learn More and Take Action Add your voice by visiting www.illinoiskidscampaign.org
Illinois Kids Campaign Coalition August 2015 Representing more than 350 organizations across the state, the Illinois Kids Campaign is a strong and diverse coalition committed to Investing in Kids. Coalition Members Elementary Schools Marquette Academy PK-12 Providence St. Mel Schlarman Academy PK-12 Universal School K-12 UNO Charter Schools CMO Chicago International Charter Schools Noble Network of Charter Schools Alphonsus Academy and Center for the Arts Arie Crown Hebrew Day School Ascension Catholic School Blessed Sacrament School Blessed Sacrament School PK-8 Bridgeport Catholic Academy Calvin Christian School Cardinal Joseph Bernadin Catholic School PK-8 Carroll Catholic School PK-8 Cathedral of St. Peter School Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago West Side Christian School Christ The King School Corpus Christi Catholic School Costa Catholic Academy PK-8 Divine Providence Catholic School Epiphany School PK-8 Epiphany Catholic School Grace Christian Academy Holy Cross School Holy Cross School PK-8, Champaign Holy Cross School PK-8, Mendota Holy Family Catholic School PK-8 Holy Family School PK-8, Peoria Holy Family School PK-8, Oglesby Holy Family School PK-8, Rockford Humboldt Community Christian School Immaculate Conception School Immaculate Conception School K-8 Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Jordan Catholic School PK-8 Little Flower School Master's Academy Most Holy Redeemer Elementary School Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy PK-8 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Elementary School Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Our Savior Grade School Peru Catholic School PK-8 Pope John Paul II Catholic School Seton Catholic School PK-8 Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School SS. Peter & Paul PK-6 SS. Peter and Paul Catholic School St. Alexander School PK-8 St. Andrew School PK-8 St. Andrew the Apostle PK-8 Learn more and add your voice: www.illinoiskidscampaign.org St. Anne Parish School PK-8 St. Anthony Elementary School St. Barnabas School PK-8 St. Benedict Preparatory School PK-8 St. Bruno Catholic School PK-8 St. Cajetan School PK-8 St. Catherine Laboure School PK-8 St. Catherine of Alexandria School PK-8 St. Christina Catholic School PK-8 St. Clare Catholic School St. Clement School PK-8 St. Cyprian School PK-8 St. Daniel the Prophet PK-8 St. Dennis School PK-8 St. Dominic School PK-8 St. Edward School PK-8 St. Emily School PK-8 St. Francis De Sales Lake Zurich PK-8 St. Francis Xavier School, LaGrange PK-8 St. Gabriel Catholic School PK-8 St. George Parish School PK-8 St. Gilbert Catholic School PK-8 St. Helen Catholic School St. Hubert School PK-8 St. Isidore School PK-8 St. Jerome Catholic School K-8 St. Joan of Arc School PK-8 St. John Brebeuf School PK-8 St. John Neumann Catholic School St. John of the Cross Parish School PK-8 St. John the Baptist School PK-8, Smithton St. John the Baptist School PK-8, Winfield St. John Vianney School PK-8 St. Josaphat School PK-8 St. Joseph Catholic School St. Joseph Catholic School PK-8 St. Joseph School PK-8 St. Jude Catholic School PK-8 St. Jude Catholic School St. Jude Parish School PK-7 St. Louis Catholic School St. Louis School PK-8 St. Louise de Marillac School PK-8 St. Luke Parish School PK-8 St. Malachy School K-6, Chicago St. Malachy School K-8, Rantoul St. Malachy School PK-8 St. Margaret Mary School PK-8 St. Mark School PK-8 St. Mary - St. Augustine Catholic School PK-8 St. Mary Catholic School K-8 St. Mary Nativity School PK-8 St. Mary of Gostyn School PK-8 St. Mary of the Annunciation School PK-5 St. Mary of the Lake School St. Mary School PK-8, Kickapoo St. Mary School K-8, Metamora St. Mary School K-8, Pontiac St. Mary School PK-8, Centralia St. Mary Star of the Sea St. Mary's School PK-8, Bloomington St. Mary's School PK-8, Edwardsville St. Matthew Church and School PK-8 St. Matthew School K-8 St. Michael School PK-8 St. Michael the Archangel PK-8 St. Monica Academy PK-8 St. Nicholas of Tolentine School PK-8 St. Pascal School K-8 St. Patrick Catholic School PK-8 St. Patrick School PK-5 St. Patrick School PK-8 St. Paul School PK-6 St. Paul School PK-8 St. Peter School St. Philip Neri School St. Philomena School PK-8 St. Pius V School PK-8 St. Sabina School PK-8 St. Symphorosa St. Thomas of Canterbury St. Thomas School K-8 St. Thomas School PK-8 St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School PK-8 St. Vincent De Paul School PK-8 St. Vincent Ferrer Parish School K-8 St. William School PK-8 The School of Saints Faith, Hope & Charity Transfiguration Catholic Elementary School PK-5 Trinity Catholic Academy PK-8 Village Leadership Academy Visitation Catholic School PK-8 Prince of Peace Catholic School Pui Tak Christian School Queen of the Rosary School Queen of the Universe Sacred Heart 96th Sacred Heart Melrose Park Salem Christian School St. Agnes School St. Aloysius School St. Ann School St. Bede Elementary School St. Benedict Catholic School St. Boniface Catholic School St. Bridget School St. Patrick Catholic School PK-5 St. John the Evangelist School St. Paul Catholic School Altus Academy Frassati Catholic Academy
High Schools Alleman High School Althoff Catholic High School Aquin Schools- High School Campus Aurora Central Catholic High School Chicago Hope Academy Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep De La Salle Institute High School Fenwick High School Father McGivney Catholic High School Gibault Catholic High School Guerin College Preparatory High School Hales Franciscan High School Hanna Sacks Bias Yaakov Girls High School Holy Trinity High School Illiana Christian High School Loyola Academy Mater Dei High School Mount Carmel High School Nazareth Academy High School Notre Dame College Prep Peoria Notre Dame High School Providence Catholic High School Queen of Peace High School Routt Catholic High School Sacred Heart Griffin High School St. Anthony High School St. Francis De Sales High School St. Francis High School St. Ignatius College Prep St. Patrick High School St. Rita of Cascia High School St. Viator High School Glenwood Academy Marquette Academy PK-12 Providence St. Mel Schlarman Academy PK-12 Universal School K-12 UNO Charter Schools CMO Chicago International Charter Schools Noble Network of Charter Schools Labor Organizations International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 Chicago Police Sergeant s Association Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 7 Pipe Fitters Association 597 Plumbers 130 Plumbers 63 Plumbers and Gasfitters 360 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 101 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 137 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 149 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 160 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 23 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 25 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 551 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 553 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 653 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 99 Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 73 Sprinkler Fitters 281 Sprinkler Fitters 669 Steam Fitters 353 Steam Fitters 439 Teamsters Joint Council 25 Teamsters Local 142 Teamsters Local 179 Teamsters Local 26 Teamsters Local 279 Teamsters Local 301 Teamsters Local 330 Teamsters Local 325 Teamsters Local 371 Teamsters Local 458M Teamsters Local 50 Teamsters Local 525 Teamsters Local 627 Teamsters Local 673 Teamsters Local 700 Teamsters Local 703 Teamsters Local 705 Teamsters Local 710 Teamsters Local 722 Teamsters Local 727 Teamsters Local 731 Teamsters Local 734 Teamsters Local 743 Teamsters Local 754 Teamsters Local 777 Teamsters Local 781 Teamsters Local 786 Teamsters Local 916 Other Supporters Agudath Israel of America Agudath Israel of Illinois American Federation for Children Archdiocese of Chicago Bright Promise Fund for Urban Christian Education Catholic Conference of Illinois Catholic Education Foundation Center for Education Reform Chamber 630 Chicago Center for Torah and Chesed Chicago Chesed Fund Chicago Embassy Church Chicago Southland Chamber Connections Academy Cristo Rey Network David Lynch Foundation Democrats for Education Reform Diocese of Belleville Diocese of Joliet Diocese of Rockford Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Drexel Fund Excellence in Education National (FEE) Families Empowered Ferrer Foundation Helping Hands of Englewood Hispanic CREO Hispanics for School Choice Illinois Advocates for Educational Choice Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools Illinois Facilities Fund Illinois Network of Charter Schools Imagine Englewood If Interscholastic Council of Private Schools Kehillah Fund Keshet LINK Unlimited Midtown Educational Foundation Midwest Jesuits Naperville Chamber of Commerce National Conference of Synagogue Youth New Beginnings Church Office of Catholic Schools, Catholic Diocese of Peoria One Chance Illinois Project HOOD Resurrection Project Schools That Can - Chicago The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice Torah Umesorah Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Yeshiva Migdal Torah Learn more and add your voice: www.illinoiskidscampaign.org
Invest in Kids - Additional Details School, District, Foundation or Organization Receiving Donations All schools and districts are automatically eligible to receive tax credit donations. In order for their donors to receive tax credits, all foundations and organizations must apply to the State and show that they: Are certified by the IRS as a tax exempt organization; Use at least 90 percent of qualified contributions to support the goal of their foundation or organization; and Hold all money received via the tax credit in an account separate from their general fund. All schools, districts, foundations and organizations must issue annual reports detailing how much money they received from the proceeds of Invest in Kids and how that money was spent. Any school, district, foundation or organization that violates these provisions can lose its eligibility to receive tax credit donations. Donor Tax Credit Process Prior to making a contribution to a school, district, foundation or organization, a taxpayer will apply for a contribution authorization certificate with the Department of Revenue, then: The Department will mail a contribution authorization certificate to the taxpayer. The Department will notify the school, foundation or organization that it has issued a contribution authorization certificate to the taxpayer for the donation. Each registered school, district, foundation or organization that receives a donation in accordance with the contribution authorization certificate notice will issue a contribution authorization certificate receipt to the taxpayer once the donation is made. A taxpayer must donate to the school, district, foundation, or organization within sixty days or they will lose the tax credit for their donation. A taxpayer may also rescind any reserved donation within the same time period. All unused or rescinded tax credits will be added back to the total available tax credits. www.illinoiskidscampaign.org Illinois Kids Campaign ILKidsCampaign
Scholarship Organization Regulations Must give at least 60 percent of total scholarship funds raised via the tax credit to students attending persistently low-performing schools, overcrowded schools, or students whose families earn the income needed to qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program. Must not give scholarships to students whose families earn more than 2.5 times the income standard needed to qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program. The total average for all scholarships given by an scholarship organization annually must not exceed $6,500 for elementary school students and $8,000 for high school students. Must provide a scholarship to an eligible student on a first-come, first-serve basis unless the student qualifies for priority status. May not grant multi-year scholarships. Teacher and Parental Tax Credits All teachers are eligible for $250 annual credit for out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Parental tax credit increased to $1000 for public and private school feed. Responsibility lies with individuals on annual tax returns. Illinois Department of Revenue Responsibilities Creates an internet portal where donors can reserve tax credits. Develops standardized forms for taxpayers as well as schools, districts, foundations and organizations. Conducts either a financial review or audit of any entity that receives a tax credit if IDOR possesses evidence of fraud. Illinois Board of Education Responsibilities Ensures that all public schools are eligible for tax credits. Develops a standardized format for a foundation or organization to become eligible for tax credits. Determines which foundations and organizations are eligible for tax credits. Creates a list of nationally-normed tests non-public school students may take if they receive a scholarships. Works with non-public schools to ensure they are offering nationally-normed tests or the state test to their scholarship students. Conducts a parent satisfaction survey. Commissions a study by an education policy expert at a public or private post-secondary institution in Illinois to determine the efficacy of the program. www.illinoiskidscampaign.org Illinois Kids Campaign ILKidsCampaign
THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES: INVEST IN KIDS States across the country have seen the benefits of education policies that put kids first TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS Part- time and full- time college enrollment by African- American students increased by 24 and 31 percent, respectively. (Journal of Public Economics) Enrollment by African- American students at selective colleges more than doubled from 3 to 8 percent. (Journal of Public Economics) During the 2014 15 school year, the School Scholarship Tax Credit program saved the state of Indiana an estimated $23.2 million. Arizona implemented a school options program in 1998 and to date, more than 77,500 taxpayers have participated, providing over $500 million in scholarship money. PUBLIC SCHOOL TAX CREDITS Low income kids who participated in arts education were 4 more times likely to have high academic achievement and 3 times more likely to have high attendance than those who didn t. (The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities) Men who participated in high school sports demonstrate higher levels of leadership, enjoy higher- status careers, and exhibit more prosocial behavior than non- athletes, including volunteering more frequently and donating more to charity. (Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies) Pennsylvania has more than 200 diverse organizations providing innovative programing, such as arts and enrichment, to public schools. TEACHER TAX CREDIT An analysis of 10 years of SAT data revealed that students who took four years of arts courses in high school earned the highest scores on both the verbal and math SAT, (College Board) 35 states are providing less funding per student for the 2013-14 school year than they did before 2007. 99.5 percent of public school teachers spent a collective $1.6 billion of their own money during the 2012-2013 school year on out- of- pocket expenses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics ALABAMA ARIZONA FLORIDA GEORGIA IOWA IDAHO INDIANA KANSAS LOUISIANA MONTANA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEVADA OKLAHOMA PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA VIRGINIA